Opening Reception and DinnerVirginia Governor Tim Kaine and West Virginia Governor Joe Manchin welcomed us to the region,. Joining them to welcome SEJ members to Appalachia was Grammy Award-winning country singer Kathy Mattea. This West Virginia native entertained us with songs from "Coal," her current album of traditional mining songs.

SEJ Awards for Reporting on the EnvironmentPhilippe and Alexandra Cousteau, grandchildren of the legendary ocean explorer, presented SEJ plaques to the winners in the most comprehensive environmental journalism competition in the world.

The Cousteau LegacyPhillipe and Alexandra Cousteau shared stories of their father, Philippe Sr., their grandfather Jacques Cousteau, and their work to continue protecting the oceans as part of the family legacy.

Making the Science Sing: A Multimedia Workshop for Journalists, Communicators and ResearchersThis session took a close-up look at a recent piece of environmental research that got heavy coverage in the press. What happened? What are the proper roles of journalists, public-relations practitioners and scientists in translating the rarified language of peer-reviewed science for mass audiences? How are those roles changing with the rise of the Internet? Moderator: Dan Fagin, Director, Science, Health and Environmental Reporting Program, New York University Speakers:Sandy Bauers, Environment Reporter, The Philadelphia InquirerBen Halpern, Project Coordinator, Ecosystem-based Management Program, National Center for Ecological Analysis and Synthesis, University of California, Santa BarbaraJohn Nielsen, former Environment Correspondent, National Public Radio, and Author, Condor: To the Brink and Back — The Life and Times of One Giant Bird

Covering Tragedies and Disasters: Trauma on Both Sides of the Pen, Computer and Camera

Moderator Mark Schleifstein of The Times-Picayune in New Orleans, Donna Alvis-Banks of The Roanoke Times, and Lawrence “Larry” Hincker, Public Relations Director at Virginia Tech, spoke on covering tragedies and disasters. Schleifstein, a Pulitzer Prize-winning reporter, covered Hurricane Katrina. The hurricane ravaged New Orleans, destroying thousands of homes, including Schleifstein’s as well as the homes of 40 percent of The Times-Picayune’s staff.

Alvis-Banks, a lifelong resident of Southwest Virginia, worked as a reporter for The Roanoke Times during the April 2007 shootings at Virginia Tech. Alvis-Banks’ philosophy on covering tragedies is that a reporter should “be a person first, and a reporter second.”

Hincker, who had to handle the droves of press members that came through Virginia Tech in the days and weeks following April 16, 2007, described the “split-second decisions” he had to make the day of the tragedy, and the “unending sadness” he experienced in the months following.

How to Be Your Own FOIA LawyerNever filed a public records request and want to learn how? Filed one and decided it took too long to get a response? Been turned down and want to know how to fight for the records you want? This session is a tradition for SEJ conferences.Moderator: Rebecca Daugherty, former Director, FOI Service Center, Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press, and Board Liaison, SEJ First Amendment Task ForceSpeakers:Richard Huff, former Co-Director, Office of Information and Privacy, U.S. Department of JusticePatrick McGinley, Judge Charles H. Haden Professor of Law, West Virginia University College of Law

Newsmaker Breakfast: 2009 Energy Policy LegislationU.S. Congressman Rick Boucher, chair of the House Energy and Air Quality Subcommittee, discusses climate change, carbon capture, and clean air legislation pending before his subcommittee and the full House Energy and Commerce Committee in the 110th Congress starting January 2009. Seating limited. SEJ members only. Moderator: Darren Samuelsohn, Senior Reporter, GreenwireSpeakers: Congressman Rick Boucher, Chair, Energy and Air Quality Subcommittee, U.S. House of RepresentativesEugene Trisko, Counsel, United Mine Workers of America

Opening Plenary - Old King CoalCoal provides half of America's electricity and is the nation's most abundant domestic fuel source. But burning coal is a major source of greenhouse gases. And mining coal takes a toll on workers, mountains, streams, and forests. What role can — and should — coal have in the nation's future energy diet? Experts on all sides will debate the issue.Moderator: Bob Edwards, Host, The Bob Edwards Show, XM Satellite RadioSpeakers: Nick Akins, Executive Vice President for Generation, American Electric PowerJeff Goodell, Journalist and Author, Big Coal: The Dirty Secret Behind America's Energy FutureFredrick Palmer, Senior Vice President of Government Relations, Peabody EnergyCindy Rank, Mining Committee Chair, West Virginia Highlands Conservancy

Concurrent Sessions 1

COALAlmost Level: Mountaintop Removal OverviewOver the past 20 years, coal operators have blasted the tops off countless Appalachian mountains, and buried more than 700 miles of streams with the leftover rock and dirt. Environmental groups and many scientists say the practice is destroying sensitive mountain streams and diverse forests. Coal industry officials and most regional politicians say mountaintop removal provides much needed jobs, flattens the land for future development and really isn't that bad on the environment. Hear from all sides in this lively overview of the most controversial environmental issue in the region.Moderator: Greg Collard, News Director, WFAE, Charlotte, NC Panelists:Steven Gardner, President, Engineering Consulting ServicesWade Gilley, former Chairman, West Virginia Governor's Task Force on Mountaintop RemovalJack Spadaro, Mining Engineer, Government Whistleblower and Activist

ENERGYMust We Grow? The Tensions Between Consumerism and Saving the Planet As hybrid SUVs and carbon-neutral air travel flood the marketplace, it's not clear if we are getting enough environmental good out of all the greenness we are buying. Can a consumer by definition even be considered green? Is a shopping-oriented society environmentally sustainable? We'll explore what going green means and what needs to happen to get the global economy in step with the environment. Moderator: Beth Daley, Staff Reporter, The Boston GlobeJames Barrett, Executive Director, Redefining ProgressScot Case, Vice President, TerraChoice Environmental Marketing Inc.Brian Czech, President, Center for the Advancement of the Steady State Economy

THE CLIMATE (coverage and related links) Climate Change and AgricultureGlobal warming is already having a significant impact on how we produce our food worldwide. Regions that currently face the most difficult challenges feeding their populations are most likely to be hit hardest as the planet heats up. Some agriculture and development experts say the answer lies in more Green Revolution-type technology, while others argue for a more whole-systems approach that addresses long-term sustainability. Does the answer lie in biotechnology? Precision farming? Eschewing petroleum-based chemicals for a more biological approach? Embracing indigenous knowledge? Come help us find the answers.Moderator: Dennis Dimick, Executive Editor, National Geographic MagazinePanelists: Theo Dillaha, Professor of Biological Systems Engineering, Virginia Tech, and Program Director, Sustainable Agriculture and Natural Resource Management Collaborative Research Support ProgramWilliam Hohenstien, Director, Global Climate Change Program, U.S. Department of AgricultureJeffery Moyer, Farm Director, Rodale Institute and Vice Chair, Crops Committee, National Organic Standards Board, U.S. Department of Agriculture

THE WATERCan This Bay Be Saved?Billions of taxpayer dollars have been spent on cleaning up the Chesapeake Bay, North America's largest and historically most productive estuary. The compact between the federal government and the states bordering the bay is often held up as a model of regional collaboration to correct environmental problems. Yet the Chesapeake's water quality today is little better than it was when the effort began 25 years ago. Why not?Moderator: Tim Wheeler, Reporter, The Baltimore SunRichard Batiuk, Associate Director for Science, Chesapeake Bay Program, U.S. Environmental Protection AgencyBill Street, Executive Director, James River AssociationAnn Swanson, Executive Director, Chesapeake Bay Commission

THE LANDJoy Ride or Ecocide? ORVs on Public LandsThe panel will discuss the growing use of Off-Road Vehicles on public lands and the issues related to this use. ORVs include everything from four-wheelers and snowmobiles to jet skis. Problems created by ORVs include water, noise and air pollution, disruption of wildlife, and the spread of weeds. Currently federal and state agencies are grappling with restricting and/or banning these machines from many parts of the public land.Moderator: George Wuerthner, Freelance Writer and Author, Thrillcraft: The Environmental Consequences of Motorized Recreation Panelists:Derb Carter, Director, Chapel Hill Office, Southern Environmental Law CenterJim Furnish, former Deputy Chief, U.S. Forest ServiceBrian Hawthorne, Public Lands Policy Director, BlueRibbon CoalitionJeff Ruch, Executive Director, Public Employees for Environmental Responsibility

ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTHToying with Toxics: Childhood Exposure to ChemicalsPhthalates in rubber duckies. Bisphenol A in baby bottles. Lead in toys. Flame retardants in furniture. Fetuses and young children are the most sensitive of all to the effects of toxic substances, and consumers are beginning to take action on their own in the absence of regulations. Moderator: Marla Cone, Editor in Chief, Environmental Health News, former Environmental Writer, Los Angeles Times and Author, Silent SnowPanelists:Marc Edwards, Charles Lunsford Professor of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Virginia TechPhilip Landrigan, Professor and Chairman, Department of Community & Preventive Medicine, and Professor of Pediatrics and Director, Children's Environmental Health Center, Mount Sinai School of MedicinePhil Shabecoff, Author, Poisoned Profits

THE NATIONBroken Bridges, Straight Pipes: The Environmental Impacts of an Aging InfrastructureAntiquated city sewer systems are releasing human waste into rivers and streams. Past-their-prime power stations are spewing greenhouse gases. Crumbling highways and railroads, and inadequate public transportation, mean even more pollution. How is our nation's aging infrastructure harming the environment? And, if we don't invest in upgrades now, are we dangerously close to disaster?Moderator: Kristin Espeland, Environmental Reporter, Public Radio Partnership, WFPL (Louisville, KY) Panelists:Katherine Baer, Senior Director of Clean Water, American RiversAndrew Herrmann, District 1 Director, American Society of Civil Engineers, and Partner, Hardesty & Hanover, LLPJack Schenendorf, Vice Chair of the National Surface Transportation Policy and Revenue Study Commission, and Of Counsel, Covington & Burling LLP

THE CRAFTEnvironment Reporters of the 21st CenturyWho are the environment reporters who provide the general public with most of its information about the environment? Where do they work? Do environmental journalists differ due to regional influences? From what sources do environment reporters get their information? Do environmental journalists in different regions rely on similar news sources? These are just a few of the questions answered by more than six hundred environment reporters in a nationwide series of telephone interviews. Two of the researchers, David Sachsman and James Simon, will present the results of the study and will be joined by SEJ members Bud Ward and Mike Mansur, who will comment on the findings.Moderator: David Sachsman, West Chair of Excellence, Department of Communication, University of Tennessee Panelists: Mike Mansur, SEJournal Editor, and Reporter, The Kansas City StarJames Simon, Professor and Chair, Department of English, Fairfield UniversityBud Ward, President, Morris A. Ward, Inc., and Founding Member, SEJ

Network Lunch and Breakout Lunch SessionEmerging Career Options: Digital Media and Your FutureWhere can environmental journalists go from here? What opportunities do we have to keep covering the environment, fostering community conversations, and telling great stories — while making a living, and regardless of the fate of traditional news organizations? Which skills (technical, business, networking) can help us, and which are less important? Which mindsets, attitudes, and assumptions will help us move forward? What are we excited about, and scared about? What are the risks and rewards?Moderator: Amy Gahran, Freelance JournalistSpeakers: Adam Glenn, Independent News ConsultantDale Willman, Executive Editor, Field Notes ProductionsLeonard Witt, Robert D. Fowler Distinguished Chair in Communication, Kennesaw State University

Concurrent Sessions 2

COALCarbon Sequestration: Silver Bullet or Black Hole?Half of U.S. electricity and more than a third of the nation's CO2 emissions come from coal-fired power plants. If coal is to remain part of our energy future in a carbon-constrained world, a new system of technologies must be developed to capture and sequester CO2. However, research is just now getting under way. What is the status of R&D? What works? Who is doing what, how much will it cost and when will technologies be ready? In the meantime, do we continue to build new coal-fired power plants?Moderator: Jeff Johnson, Senior Correspondent, Chemical & Engineering NewsPanelists: Bruce Braine, Vice President, Strategic Policy Analysis, American Electric PowerThomas Feeley, Technology Manager, National Energy Technology Lab, U.S. Department of EnergySarah Forbes, Senior Associate and CCS Specialist, World Resources Institute

ENERGYEnergy 101: A Primer for Reporters The environment beat and the energy beat these days are inextricably linked. If you are new to covering energy, have trouble finding energy angles to pitch to your editors, or are just interested in the topic — this how-to session is for you. You will learn how to mine federal databases to find out where your state or region's energy comes from, what sources generate its electricity, and how much energy it consumes. You will learn how to trove legislation and campaign finance databases to find energy stories with a political slant. And then you will look at examples from reporters who cover energy regionally to see how it is done. Moderator: Dina Cappiello, Environment/Energy Reporter, The Associated Press Panelists: Jonathan Cogan, Press Officer, Energy Information AdministrationCatharine Richert, Senate Reporter, Congressional Quarterly

THE CLIMATEClose Quarters: Could an End to Population Growth Help Stabilize the Climate?Moderator: Constance Holden, Staff Writer, Science Magazine Panelists: Steve Curwood, Host and Executive Producer, "Living On Earth," Public Radio InternationalRobert Engelman, Vice President for Programs, Worldwatch InstituteTom Horton, Freelance Writer

THE WATERHydropower: Past, Present & FutureThe old questions about the environmental costs of building big dams haven't gone away — they've just turned up in new places like Asia and South America. We'll talk about the latest news on those projects. In the United States, different questions dominate, such as: Is aging dam infrastructure still safe? Is the boom in "second generation" hydropower — mainly wave and tidal energy projects — a solid green alternative or will these projects create serious environmental problems, too? In light of rising energy prices, what are the prospects of decommissioning more controversial conventional dams? Where in the U.S. are conventional dams still in development?Moderator: Elizabeth Bluemink, Reporter, Anchorage Daily NewsPanelists:Andrew Fahlund, Vice President for Conservation, American RiversJacques Leslie, Author, Deep Water: The Epic Struggle Over Dams, Displaced People, and the EnvironmentJulie Smith-Galvin, Director of Communications, U.S. Operations, Brookfield Renewable Power

THE LANDBiodiversity, People, and the Planet: An Appalachian LessonAn endangered Appalachian salamander and a resident of American suburbia have something in common: Each stays alive by the grace of a functioning ecosystem. However, pollution, population growth, land-use changes and climate change are eroding the integrity of the natural world to a point where many experts believe we are approaching — or perhaps have passed — a tipping point. Appalachia, home to some of the Earth's oldest mountains, is the setting for a dramatic story about the challenges of maintaining biodiversity. Critically endangered aquatic life, smog, agriculture, and urban pressures all combine to make Appalachia a perfect case study whose lessons journalists can carry home and apply anywhere.Moderator: Randy Loftis, Environmental Writer, The Dallas Morning NewsPanelists:Paul Angermeier, Professor, Department of Fisheries and Wildlife Sciences, Virginia TechRoberta Hylton, Project Leader, Southwestern Virginia Field Office, U.S. Fish and Wildlife ServiceJohn Kunich, Professor, Charlotte School of LawJerry Moles, Consulting Director of Land Stewardship, New River Land Trust

ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH"Where There's Smoke..." : Job Hazards as Forerunners of Public HazardsIndustries with high worker injury and death rates often — and not coincidentally — turn out to be major polluters or producers of hazardous materials that endanger the public at large. Beyond the well-documented asbestos casualties among workers, for example, lies a largely untold story of developers churning up a far more dangerous form of the mineral fibers in cities — especially in the East. Learn of other examples and reporting tips from the experts.Moderator: Chris Bowman, Environment and Energy Reporter, The Sacramento BeePanelists: David Egilman, Principal, Never Again ConsultingCeleste Monforton, Researcher, School of Public Health and Health Services, George Washington UniversityJohn Yetman, Environmental Health Specialist, Fairfax County Health Department, Virginia

THE NATIONEnvironmental Policy, Public Opinion, and the ElectionThere will be a new occupant in the White House come January, which will undoubtedly shape environmental issues in the coming years, but how will the 2008 congressional election and other races around the nation impact those issues? We'll discuss that and talk about congressional races with major environmental stakes.Moderator: Dan Radmacher, Editorial Page Editor, The Roanoke TimesPanelists:David Jenkins, Government Affairs Director, Republicans for Environmental ProtectionWilliam Kovacs, Vice President, Environment, Technology and Public Affairs, U.S. Chamber of CommerceDavid Sandretti, Communications Director, League of Conservation Voters

Breakfast Plenary: Environmental Justice and the PoorSince its inception in the 1980s in North Carolina, the environmental justice movement has drawn attention to the inequitable environmental risks that many African-American communities have long been forced to bear. In Appalachia, these same inequitable risks have been borne by poor white communities. A diverse panel discussed where the movement came from and where it's headed. This breakfast was sponsored in part by Wheeling Jesuit University and West Virginia University. Download PlenaryEnviroJustice (MP3/15.4MB/1:07:24)

COALCoal Around the GlobeCoal's ingredients comprise a devastating global threat: Carbon dioxide is the leading component in global warming, while sulfur dioxide (which leads to acid rain), nitrogen oxide (which produces ozone), and mercury all cause health and environmental damage. Yet China alone consumes more than a billion tons of coal a year, more than virtually all the world's developed nations combined. Throughout the developing world, consumption of coal is accelerating, with ominous implications for the world's environment. This panel will focus on coal use, impacts, and possible solutions outside the U.S., with particular attention paid to China and India, the world's first and third biggest consumers of coal respectively.Moderator: Jacques Leslie, Freelance Writer Panelists:Peter Fairley, Freelance WriterRoe-Hoan Yoon, Professor of Mining and Minerals Engineering, Virginia Tech, and Director, Center for Advanced Separation Technologies

ENERGYBeyond Corn: Making Biofuels from Grass, Trash and AlgaeCorn-based ethanol has fueled a bitter debate over efficiency and the ethics of using a food product to gas up vehicles. But even farmers acknowledge that corn for ethanol and soybeans for biodiesel will likely be replaced someday by other feedstocks that are more efficient and less politically troublesome. This panel isn't about the fight over the wisdom of biofuels in general; we'll leave that to other forums. These authorities will tell about more efficient processes that could mine grasslands, the ocean or landfills for tomorrow's fuel.Moderator: Perry Beeman, Environment Reporter, The Des Moines RegisterPanelists:Frank Maisano, Bracewell & GiulianiJulie Sibbing, Senior Program Manager, Agriculture Policy, National Wildlife FederationChris Somerville, Director, Energy Biosciences Institute, University of California-Berkley

THE CLIMATE Rough Road Ahead: Preparing for Climate ChangeRising sea levels, intensified storms, floods, drought, heat waves...these are some of the unavoidable consequences of our carbon habit. No matter how quickly we manage to cut carbon emissions, scientists say there's already enough heat in the pipeline to alter the Earth's climate. We will need to adapt — and some people have already taken the first steps. This panel will showcase some of the efforts currently under way to prepare for a warming world. From building a more resilient New Orleans, to protecting our nation's rivers, and helping towns and cities plan for the future, our panelists are at the leading edge of what promises to be one of the most critical efforts of the 21st century.Moderator: Kristin Choo, Freelance Writer Panelists:Steven Bingler, Architect, Founder of Concordia LLC, and Coordinator of the Unified New Orleans planAndrew Fahlund, Vice President of Conservation, American RiversJosh Foster, Manager of Climate Adaptation, Urban Leaders Adaptation Initiative, Center for Clean Air Policy

THE WATERAre the Oceans Already Lost?The declining health of the world's oceans is an often unseen, intangible predicament for a land-based human society. But the daily outputs of life on land are having a tremendous impact on life in the sea. A wholesale re-ordering of the ocean's food chain is under way, not only through overfishing but from agricultural and industrial runoff into the seas that makes previously productive areas uninhabitable to marine life. The broader impacts of climate change, another byproduct of human life on land, will continue to have major impacts on the rhythms of life in the sea. What are the most dire issues facing the rich and vast natural resource of our oceans, and what are the practical ways to reverse the trends?Moderator: Chris Kirkham, Reporter, The Times-Picayune Panelists: Dennis Heinemann, Senior Scientist and Vice President for Ocean Climate Change, Ocean ConservancyJackie Savitz, Senior Scientist and Pollution Campaign Director, Oceana

THE LANDAre Suburbs the Next Slums? The Subprime Mortgage Meltdown as an Environmental StoryPeak Oil and the sea of "For Sale" signs washing over the nation's suburbs are setting the stage for a major story as Americans appear to be leaving the 'burbs in record numbers. Gen Xers and empty-nesting Boomers are spearheading the trend toward walkable urbanism. What does it mean for the land of the cul de sac? For the future of commuting? For inner cities? Join in a conversation with two of the nation's deepest thinkers on this topic.Moderator: Robert McClure, Staff Writer, Seattle Post-Intelligencer Panelists:Parris Glendening, President, Smart Growth Leadership Institute and former Governor of MarylandArthur "Chris" Nelson, Presidential Professor and Director of Metropolitan Research, Department of City and Metropolitan Planning, College of Architecture, University of Utah

ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTHThe Rollercoaster World of ToxicologyWill your baby's bottle give your newborn cancer? Is your Nalgene water bottle putting harmful chemicals in you? What kind of endocrine disruptors have been detected in our food, our waterways and our own bodies? Are these chemicals causing male fish to grow eggs? Scientists have found phthalates, BPA and birth control pills in the waterways. Should we be concerned about the presence of these chemicals? Is it all hype? Experts from the government, industry and academia weigh in.Moderator: Susanne Rust, Science Reporter, Milwaukee Journal SentinelPanelists: Richard Becker, Senior Toxicologist, American Chemistry CouncilJerrold Heindel, Scientific Program Administrator, Cellular, Organ and Systems Pathobiology Branch, Division of Extramural Research and Training, National Institute of Environmental Health SciencesPete Myers, CEO and Chief Scientist, Environmental Health Sciences

THE NATIONDiversity and Environmental JournalismIn 20 years half of the U.S. population aged 30 and under will be people of color; a decade or two later half of the entire U.S. population will be of color. But will half of the media be, or, more specifically, half the environmental journalism community? Probably not. So, where do (and will) people of color get their environmental news? And, how do white journalists and mainstream media reach this growing, and increasingly empowered, demographic with the environmental information needed to help make informed decisions? Moderator: Steve Curwood, Host and Executive Producer, "Living On Earth," Public Radio International Panelists:Robert Bullard, Director, Environmental Justice Resource Center, Clark Atlanta UniversityGlenn Proctor, Executive Editor, Richmond Times-DispatchMarley Shebala, Senior Reporter, Navajo Times

THE CRAFTGetting the Goods: Using Court Records for Environmental InvestigationsChanges in environmental policies and laws often are prompted by legal action. Corporate and government records unearthed during these cases can shine a light on how things really work, and often expose loopholes and flaws in policies and laws intended to protect people and the environment. Meet some of the people who have fought these court battles and learn more about how court records can be invaluable to journalists and the public. The panelists have worked on cases involving a Teflon chemical showing up in humans worldwide, mountaintop removal for Appalachian coal mining and the health effects of toxic substances.Moderator: Michael Hawthorne, Environment Reporter, Chicago TribunePanelists:Ken Cook, President, Environmental Working GroupJim Hecker, Environmental Enforcement Director, Public Justice

Concurrent Sessions 4

COALBeyond Coal: Strategies for Appalachian Reclamation and Renewal Government mandated cleanups of closed mines have come a long way from the days when a coal company could simply abandon a site with little to no work. Modern techniques to reclaim mined land often leave vast, open fields where nothing but grasses can grow and can still leave behind streams tainted with sulfuric acid and metals. Four experts offer their solutions for reforesting, reclaiming and finding new uses for once-mined lands.Moderator: Spencer Hunt, Environment Reporter, The Columbus DispatchPanelists:James Burger, Garland Gray Professor of Forestry and Soil Science, Department of Forestry, College of Natural Resources, Virginia TechJoe Lovett, Executive Director, Appalachian Center for the Economy & the EnvironmentTerry Sammons, Attorney and Chair, Mingo County Redevelopment AuthorityPaul Ziemkiewicz, Director, WV Water Research Institute, West Virginia University

ENERGYTake Two: Nuclear Power ReconsideredThree journalists who have years of experience covering nuclear power will provide some insight into how the upcoming presidential election could affect the industry's hopes for a renaissance, as well as provide the layman with some reporting tools for getting started and/or taking his/her reporting skills to a higher level. In a reporters' roundtable format, expect a collegial exchange of ideas and news tips, whether it's the latest about Nevada's Yucca Mountain or one of the nation's 104 operating nuclear plants that might be in your area (or even one of the newer breeds of reactors that may be coming soon). Can nuclear power be a panacea for climate change? A reliable source of baseload power? Safe from terrorism? More open to whistleblowers? Come and find out. And bring lots of questions.Moderator: Thomas Henry, Environmental Writer, The (Toledo) Blade Panelists:Margie Kriz, Staff Correspondent, National JournalJennifer Weeks, Freelance Writer

THE CLIMATEClimate Change Litigation: The Flood in the Courts Absent any federal climate change policy, states and interest groups are turning to the courts. More than two dozen cases already are pending, pursuing legal strategies ranging from the Clean Air Act, Endangered Species Act, energy statutes, National Environmental Policy Act and similar state laws, and common tort law. And the number of suits grows daily. Top attorneys will discuss the legal theories behind current cases, the dangers of letting the courts set global warming policies, and emerging issues like the legal challenges individual states and regions face in implementing climate change policies.Moderator: Carolyn Whetzel, California Correspondent, BNA Panelists:Michael Gerrard, Partner, Arnold & PorterCale Jaffe, Senior Attorney, Southern Environmental Law CenterWilliam Snape III, Senior Attorney, Center for Biological DiversityRobert Wyman Jr., Partner, Latham & Watkins

THE WATER What's Hot at the Poles: Polar Science and the International Polar YearThe International Polar Year (IPY) is a global scientific research project supported by scientific agencies around the world. A primary goal is to study the impacts of global environmental and social change on polar regions. With the North Polar ice cover shrinking dramatically and new observations showing more movement of ice in Antarctica, these studies will be at the center of our understanding of world climate change. Panelists will discuss the role of polar regions in the global environment, the latest research from the IPY project, and relate some of the major environmental questions that are still unanswered in polar science.Moderator: Gary Braasch, Photojournalist and Author, Earth Under FirePanelists:Robert Bindschadler, Chief Scientist, Goddard Space Flight Center, NASAThomas Wagner, Antarctic Earth Sciences Program Director, National Science Foundation

THE LANDAnimal Business: Wildlife Trafficking and International LawIllicit wildlife trade has the tragic distinction of being the third top criminal enterprise in the world, just behind drug and human trafficking and in front of weapons smuggling. Pound for pound, the profit margin in some wildlife smuggling often exceeds that of cocaine and other drugs. It is a growth industry that depends on animal populations that are increasingly imperiled. This panel will discuss the impact of illicit trade on animal populations and the species most at risk, the growth of wildlife cybercrime, challenges to law enforcement and where things are going right.Moderator: Laurel Neme, Freelance Environmental Writer Panelists:Crawford Allan, Director, TRAFFIC North America, World Wildlife FundSalvatore Amato, Assistant Special Agent in Charge, Northeast Region, U.S. Fish and Wildlife ServicePeter Jenkins, Director of International Conservation, Defenders of Wildlife

ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTHDoes Environment Trump Genetics? Teasing Out the Factors Affecting Women's HealthFor years, evidence has accumulated pointing to the effects of environmental factors on women's reproductive health, cancers, respiratory problems, autoimmune diseases, and other disorders. Now, new scientific tools are helping researchers hone in on interactions between genes and the environment, and specific biological mechanisms and timing. How are environmental exposures affecting risks for an assortment of ailments, including breast cancer, endometriosis, ovarian dysfunctions, uterine fibroids, heart disease and obesity? Does the science change our focus from treating disease after it is detected to preventing it beforehand? If so, what are the policy implications, and what's needed?Moderator: Francesca Lyman, Freelance Writer Panelists:Gwen Collman, Genes and Environment Initiative, Environmental Genome ProjectJanet Gray, Editor, State of the Evidence 2008, Breast Cancer Fund, and Director, Program in Science, Technology and Society, Vassar CollegeLouis Guillette Jr., Zoologist and Distinguished Professor of Zoology, University of Florida

THE NATIONThe Clean Air Act's Unfinished BusinessThe primary story of air-pollution regulation in the last year has been the story of things not happening — an Appeals Court's negation of the Clean Air Interstate Rule, the EPA's rejection of California's waiver request, and the Bush Administration's refusal to regulate greenhouse gases under the Clean Air Act. How should individual states and the next presidential administration proceed? Should the Clean Air Act be re-written? If not, what should be the next steps in the regulation of both traditional pollutants and greenhouse gases?Moderator: David Fahrenthold, Staff Writer, The Washington PostPanelists:Pamela Faggert, Chief Environmental Officer, DominionBruce Nilles, Director, National Coal Campaign, Sierra ClubJohn Randolph, Program Chair, Urban Affairs and Planning, and Professor, Environmental Planning, Virginia Tech

THE CRAFTNot-So-Idle Chatter: How Blogging and Social Media Can Build Your Career Blogs, Twitter, Facebook, Friendfeed, instant messaging, and texting... They're not just noise, and they're far from trivial. Most importantly, they're where a lot of your audience is going. Learn how to raise your online profile, gain professional clout, publicize and enhance your work, cultivate a quality "posse", stay relevant, and attract interesting opportunities — simply by having the courage to engage in public discourse. This session will feature three journalists who have found unique opportunities through digital media.Moderator: Amy Gahran, Freelance Journalist Panelists:Greg Harman, Staff Writer, San Antonio CurrentLeonard Witt, Robert D. Fowler Distinguished Chair in Communication, Kennesaw State University

Lunch and Plenary Session: Election 2008 and the EnvironmentWith environment and energy issues hotter than ever this election year, we'll have presidential candidates' top advisers on hand for a head-to-head discussion on the issues. We'll also hear from congressional leaders on the frontlines of the debates in Washington. The session promises to provide key insights into the next generation of federal environmental policies.Welcoming Remarks: Sharron Quisenberry, Dean, College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Virginia TechModerator: Margie Kriz, Staff Correspondent, National JournalSpeakers:David Hamilton, Director, Global Warming and Energy Program, Sierra ClubDavid Jenkins, Government Affairs Director, Republicans for Environmental ProtectionCongressman Nick Rahall (D-WV), Chairman, Natural Resources Committee, U.S. House of Representatives

Breakfast with Wendell BerryLegendary author, thinker and farmer Wendell Berry headlined a lively discussion on everything from mountaintop removal coal mining to the role of literature in environmental struggles. Berry was joined by writers and West Virginia natives Ann Pancake, author of Strange As This Weather Has Been, and Denise Giardina, author of Storming Heaven and The Unquiet Earth. The authors will read from their books, discuss the treatment of coal-mining in their work, explore fiction's impacts on environmental issues, and answer questions from SEJ members. Here's the audio: Download SundayOpeningSession (MP3/17.5MB/1:16:50)

Finding a Sense of Place: Appalachia in Literature and JournalismQuestions about the effect of environment on individuals and cultures go back for millennia. But what happens to people when they begin to lose their environment? Journalist Penny Loeb, novelist Ann Pancake and professor Theresa Burriss have taken different approaches to a question that is at the heart of the modern Appalachian experience. Download Sunday_Sense-of-Place (MP3/4.85MB/0:21:13)Moderator: Theresa Burriss, Assistant Professor of English and Appalachian Studies, and Director of the Learning Assistance and Resource Center, Radford University Speakers:Penny Loeb, Author, Moving MountainsAnn Pancake, Author, Strange as This Weather Has Been

Exploring the Horizons: Natural History and Travel WritingGetting to the heart of environmental issues often means skilfully navigating place and time, capturing and recreating places, experiences and relationships that are far removed from the usual experience of the audience — and often from the direct experience of the reporters/writers themselves. Panelists will share their reporting experiences, writing strategies and tips for navigating distant and unknown terrain and returning with a piece of work that's authentic, insightful, and engaging. Download Sunday_Exploring-the-Horizons (MP3/14.8MB/1:04:49)Moderator: Peter Thomson, Author, Sacred Sea: A Journey to Lake BaikalSpeakers:Nancy Lord, Author, Beluga Days: Tracking the Endangered White Whale and Green Alaska: Dreams from the Far CoastJohn Manuel Jr., Author, A Natural Traveler Along North Carolina's Coast

Writing About Science and the EnvironmentWhat is getting in print these days that deals with the heart of the beat? Three recently published book authors discuss everything from the state of the book market to advice on writing about the fine points of science for a general audience. Moderator: Robert Wyss, Author, Covering the Environment: How Journalists Work the Green Beat Speakers:Gary Braasch, Photojournalist and Author, Earth Under FireEric Roston, Author, The Carbon AgeDebra Schwartz, Author, Writing Green